CEO Departures

Pomerantz to retire in 2024

Paul Pomerantz, who has held multiple CEO roles during his association career, will retire from the American Society of Anesthesiologists in April 2024, when his contract ends. He has led ASA since March 2013. The board announced it will commence a search for his successor.

ASA credits him with improving member experience and satisfaction by increasing resources in areas such as educational and professional development, public policy and advocacy. Membership grew to 56,500 and revenue to $50 million, according to a statement by the Chicago-based association.

"We want to thank Paul for his extraordinary leadership and impact over the decade he has led the Society," ASA President Michael W. Champeau said in a statement. "Always a strategic leader, Paul has played an enormous role in transforming ASA by implementing successful member-facing programs and initiatives as well as a renewed focus on strategic planning, including the creation of strategic pillars to align key initiatives throughout the organization."

Pomerantz was executive director of the Drug Information Association for four years before joining ASA. Before that, he held chief executive roles at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the Society for Interventional Radiology and the Clinical Laboratory Management Association. He has an MBA in health care administration from Temple University.

Pomerantz is immediate past chair of the Association Forum and has been chair of the ASAE Foundation, ASAE Business Services and the ASAE Power of A committee. He received ASAE's Key Award in 2015.

CEO Arrivals

Social workers hire Estreet

The $32M-revenue National Association of Social Workers has hired Anthony Estreet as CEO, effective Feb. 6. He replaces Angelo McClain, who retired at year-end. Janlee Wong, the retired executive director of the NASW California Chapter, is currently interim CEO.

Estreet most recently was professor and chair of the Master of Social Work program at Morgan State University. He also is founder and CEO of Next Step Treatment Center in Baltimore, Md. He was VP of the board of NASW but stepped down when he became a candidate for the CEO position.

Estreet "has a wealth of experience in managing successful mental health services companies and is a respected thought leader in the social work profession," board president Mildred Joyner said in a statement. "We are confident he will build on the successes of Angelo McClain and lead NASW's accomplished staff to take our association to greater heights."

Estreet said he plans to increase NASW membership, particularly among students, keep the association focused on social justice issues including racial equity and reproductive rights, and strengthen the workforce by expanding efforts to increase social worker compensation.

He has a Ph.D. in social work from Morgan State University and an MBA from the University of Maryland.

Nonprofit HR assisted in the search.

Preziosi rejoins CGFNS International

CGFNS International announced Dec. 21 that Peter Preziosi has rejoined the $15M-revenue organization as CEO. Formerly known as the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools, CGFNS assesses and validates the academic and professional credentials of foreign-educated health care professionals.

Preziosi had been chief innovation and business development officer at CGFNS from January 2017 through mid-2020. He then joined the World Health Organization as quality analyst and credentialing lead. His previous roles include CEO of the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity. He succeeds retired CEO Franklin Shaffer, who had led the CGFNS since 2001.

Junior Leagues name Schild

The $6.2M-revenue Association of Junior Leagues International has hired Melanie Schild as CEO. The membership association supports 295 independent Junior League organizations in four countries, representing more than 125,000 women civic leaders.

"The Junior League holds a special place in my heart as it was the first place I volunteered as a young adult, and it was a place where I honed my leadership skills during the early part of my career," Schild said in a statement.

Before joining AJLI, Schild was CEO of Girl Scouts Heart of the South for more than eight years. Before that, she was executive director of Pilot International. Earlier in her career, she was executive director of Kappa Delta Sorority and Kappa Delta Foundation, where she worked for over two decades.

According to an AJLI statement, Schild created National Women's Friendship Month, International Care and Kindness Week and International Girls Day, and founded the Confidence Coalition to promote self-confidence in girls and women.

She has a bachelor's degree in advertising from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a master's degree in organizational communication from the University of Denver.

Snowsports instructors choose Hiller

The $3.6M-revenue Professional Ski Instructors of America and the American Association of Snowboard Instructors (PSIA-AASI) has hired Peggy Hiller as CEO, effective Jan. 16. She succeeds Nicholas Herrin, who left in June. CFO Tom Spiess has been interim CEO.

Hiller was VP of operations at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area in Dillon, Colo., for seven years, after 18 years at other positions at the resort. A Denver native, she also has worked at Keystone Resort in Keystone, Colo., and at Christie Lodge in Avon, Colo.

She has a bachelor's degree in economics from Smith College.

Sterling Martin Associates assisted in the search.

ASCPT selects Gorman to succeed Swan

The $2.1M-revenue American Society for Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics has named Abigail Gorman CEO. She succeeds Sharon Swan, who retired Dec. 31 after nearly 25 years with the association.

Gorman most recently was chief of staff for the American Institute of Architects. Before joining AIA in 2014, she held executive roles at the American Dental Education Association for 12 years and at Washington, D.C., business consulting firm Kaiser Associates for six years.

She has an MBA in finance from the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business and a bachelor's degree in Middle Eastern history from Smith College.

Vetted Solutions assisted in the search.

Mortgage insurers hire Appleton

The $2.1M-revenue U.S. Mortgage Insurers has named Seth Appleton president. He succeeds Lindsey Johnson, who left last year to head the Consumer Bankers Association.

Most recently, Appleton was president of the Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization, and before that was principal EVP at the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae). Earlier, he was a Senate-confirmed assistant secretary for policy development and research at the Department of Housing and Urban Development during the Trump administration. Appleton was an aide to Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Mo.) for more than eight years, including as chief of staff.

Following Appleton's departure, MISMO named VP of Operations Jan Davis acting president. MISMO received a $2 million investment from the Mortgage Bankers Association in 2019.

Appleton is co-chair of the Bipartisan Policy Center's Housing Council. He has a bachelor's degree in history from Stanford University.
Recruitment firm Spencer Stuart assisted in the search.

Green transportation group taps Gore

The Zero Emission Transportation Association has hired Albert Gore as executive director. Gore is the son of former Vice President Al Gore. He succeeds Joe Britton, who will remain board president of the 2-year-old group. ZETA is incorporated as a 501(c)(4) and also has a 501(c)(3) education fund.

Most recently, Gore was lead for public policy and business development for the eastern United States at Tesla, where he worked for seven years. He had been deputy director of policy and electricity markets finance at SolarCity when it was acquired by Tesla.

"The past two years have been an amazing period for ZETA and transportation electrification," Britton said in a statement. "Much of the conversation around (electric vehicles) over the next few years will focus on implementation and deployment following the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Albert's experience, policy acumen, and leadership abilities will help ZETA enter into a new frontier as we support the implementation of these landmark bills."

Gore has a bachelor's degree in government from Harvard University and an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Ross to head anatomy group

The $2.4M-revenue American Association for Anatomy has named Christine Ross executive director. Ross had been interim executive director since July, after Shawn Boynes left the group to become CEO of the American Counseling Association.

Before founding her management consulting firm, C. Ross Associates, in 2021, Ross was CEO of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce. She has also been CEO of the Bonita Springs Estero Economic Development Council and CEO of the Falmouth (Mass.) Chamber of Commerce.

"Christine is a proven leader who has demonstrated her ability to guide our organization as interim executive director for the past 6 months," board President-elect Martine Dunnwald, chair of the search committee, said in a statement.

Ross has a bachelor's degree in music education from James Madison University and an MBA in marketing from the University of Maryland Global Campus.

Sterling Martin Associates assisted in the search.

Senior staff arrivals

American Iron and Steel Institute—Michael Uhrich joined $11M-revenue AISI in December as chief economist. He succeeded Tim Gill, who had held the position since 2016. Uhrich is founder and chief economist at Seventh Point Analytic Consulting. He was previously chief economist at the Beer Institute.

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Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers—The Council promoted Joel Wood to president of the $13M-revenue organization Jan. 3. Ken Crerar, who was both president and CEO, will continue as CEO. Wood, a 30-year veteran of the association, had been SVP of government affairs. The Council also promoted Catherine Richardson from SVP of external affairs and sponsorships to the newly created role of COO. Richardson is a former broker who joined the association in 2013.

"In close consultation with our Board, I've developed a succession plan that allows the most experienced members of this team to step up and lead The Council into the future, as I take on a more strategic leadership role," Crerar said in the announcement. "This plan creates the continuity that is vital to The Council's success, while opening up new opportunities for the next generation of leaders who will move the association forward."

The Council announced several other promotions, including Joel Kopperud to SVP of government affairs.

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Society for Human Resource Management—$122M-revenue SHRM announced several changes and promotions within its leadership structure in December. Mike Aitken is now chief membership officer. Aitken, who joined SHRM in 2003 as director of government relations, has been SVP of membership since 2018.

Tina Beaty is now SVP and acting chief marketing and experience officer and will join SHRM's executive team. Emily Dickens will now lead the newly created public affairs department, in addition to her roles as chief of staff and corporate secretary.